Apparatus for perforating and cleaning cigars



March 31,1942. L s, mum 2,217,686

APPARATUS FOR PERFORATIHG AND CLEANINGGIGARS Filed Jul; 9, 1937 y Sheets-snelst 1- 15 46 7g y f 11 76 Hpm V 71 7a ...l l I* l l l 6 .96 5 l5 Z9) u ZZ I I 7a -2 55 Zz el if zo z5 45 2712 JZ 71 l 69 I 4 25 0' 5g -4 4% 1 65 6a. l ze Mgrch 31, 1942. l.; s. BLouNv-r APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING AND CLEANING CIGARS Filed July- 9, 19:57

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 il] MJ Patented Mar. 31, 1942 unir-ao stares agregar pagina APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING AND CLEANING CEGARS' Lloyd S. vBlount, Summit, N. J., assigner, by mesnc assignments, to International Cigar Maclinery Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application July 9, 1937, Serial'No. 152,716

9 ciaims; (c1.- 131-254) y This invention relates to an apparatus for perforating and cleaning cigars and has for its principal object to provide for the perforation of the cigar head without cracking or'damaging the same and for the removal of the dust and fines from the entire cigar.

A feature of the invention consists in perforating and cleaning the cigars just prior to wrapping the same and after the cigars have been aged or packed and dried for use. The prompt wrapping of the cigars after the cigar head has been perforated and cleaned prevents dust from accumulating therein after the cleaning operation and also prevents the perforation from being closed by the pressure exerted on the cigars in stacking and packing.

Another feature of the invention consists in ironing or smoothing the tobacco adjacent the perforation after the cigar has been perforated.

A further feature consists in the use of suction for removing the fines and dust fromthe cigar after the perforating and ironing steps.

Other features consist in .the detailsof construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully set forth.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended yhereto, the invention will be better understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in Which `a specific embodiment thereof has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. `2; and

Fig. 5 is la detail View of the clamp for holding the cigars during the perforating and cleaning operations.

In the following description and in the claims certain specific terms have been used. for convenience for referring to various details of the e invention. It is to be understood, however, that these terms are to be interpreted as broadly as the state of the art Will permit. y

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the invention is shown in position to perforate and clean cigars Ill which are held by clips Il on a conveyor l2 by which they are conveyed from a banding machine, not shown, to a wrapping machine i4 of the type shown in the United States Patent No. 1,899,174, granted February 28, 1933, to Henry H.' Wheeler, for Cigar enveloping machine, when is adapted to apply a moistureproof Wrapper to the cigars and constitutes the last step in'finishing the cigar. The cigars I0 are positioned by rails I5 as they lare fed along by the conveyor I2. It is to be understood that the `cigars may be subjected to one or more intermediate. steps after leaving the banding machine depending upon the requirements -of any particular case. In any event, the perforating and cleaning machine, to be described, is preferably mounted in a position to treat the cigars just prior to the wrapping operation.

In the embodiment shown the perforating and 'cleaning machine comprises a frame 2li having a base plate 2| attached by lugs 22 and bolts 23 to the frame 24 of the Wrapping machine i4 and carrying rods 25 on whicha cross-head 26 is adapted to slide. The rods 25 are joined b-y a head plate 21 to` provide a rigid construction. The base plate 2l also carries a plurality of rods 28 which project toward the conveyor l2 and carry a slide 29.

The slide 29 is provided with a depending ange 34, Figs. 3 and 4, carrying a plurality of nipples 35, 36 and 3l, which are provided with surfaces 35a, 36a and 31a, respectively, to receive and position the heads 38 of cigars I0. The nipple 35 is provided with a through channel 40 and is adapted to receive a suction hose 4l by which suction is applied to the head of the cigar. The nipple 36 is provided with an aperture 39 adapted to pass a heated needle 43 and the nipple 31 is provided with an aperture 42 adapted to pass a circular drill 45. The nipples are normally held in engagement with the cigarheads by means of a spring 46, Fig. 1.

The cross-head 26 carries a heater unit 50 having an electric heating coil 5I which is adapted to heat the needle 43. The needle 43 is removably held Within the unit 5!) by means of a set screw 52. It is to be understood that the type of heating element can be varied as desired. In the rembodiment shown the coil 5l is provided With terminals 54 which are adapted to be connected to a source of current supply.

The cross head 26 also carries a bracket 58 in which is journalled a sleeve 59 carrying a drive `pulley 60 and the hollow drill 45. The drive by a suitable gear 1| attached to an operating shaft of the wrapping machine. adapted to make one revolution at each of the step-by-step movements of the belt I2.

A lever 12 is pivoted to the head plate 21 by a pin 13 and carries a bracket 14 attached to a yoke 15. A band 16 is disposed beneath the yoke and extends over the cigars l0. The band 16 is held in pressure engagement with certain of the cigars by means of a spring 11. The lever 12 may be held in clamping position by means of a spring 18 attached to the end 19 thereof and is raised by a roller 80 mounted on a bracket 8| attached to the cross-head 26 and engaging ia cam 82 secured to the lower surface of the lever 12. The rollers 80 and 82 are so arranged that the lever 12 is raised at each actuation of the machine to permit the cigars to be advanced by the conveyor I2, but is released to cause the yoke 15 and the band 16 to clamp the cigars during the perforating and cleaning operations.

The friction-band 16 is stretched between supports 81 (Figure 2) to which it is held by clamping strip 88. The other end of the band 16 (though not shown) is similarly mounted and clamped.

The cigar conveying parts of the perforating device are actuated in synchronism with the movement of the cross-head 26 from the drive of the cigar Wrapping machine I4. In the latter a Geneva gear of conventional design (not shown) produces the step-by-step motion of the transfer arm 89 which removes cigars from table T whence they are fed by flights and lifted into the pockets of the wrapping turret (not shown). A link 99 transmits the intermittent motion of the wrapping machine to an arm 9| pivoted on shaft 94, which in turn carries pawl 92 coacting with ratchet 93 on the drive shaft 94 of conveyor l2. In order to drive conveyor 96 in synchronism with chain conveyor I2, a gear mounted on shaft 94 meshes with a gear 91 mounted on shaft 95. In this manner the several mechanisms responsible for the step-by-step movement and infeed of perforated cigars into the Wrapping machine are associated.

The slide 29 is retracted by a rod 65 attached to the bracket 58, extending through an aperture in the slide 29 and having at its end a pin 86 which is adapted to engage and retract the slide 29.

It is to be understood that the wrapping machine is of standard construction and only so much thereof has been disclosed herein as is necessary to an understanding of the present invention. The perfor-ating and cleaning unit has been shown as attached to the wrapping machine in order to afford the least possible chance of contamination of the cigar between the cleaning and wrapping operations. It is to be understood, however, that the perforating and cleaning mechanism may be incorporated in separate devices if desired.

In the operation of the above described device,

The cam 69 is the cigars IO are fed to the wrapping machine by the conveyor l2 in a step-by-step movement. When the conveyor is at rest, the cam 69 permits the cross-head 26 to be moved toward the heads of the cigars by spring 63. This movement of the cross-head 26 rst causes the roller 80 to release the cam 82 thereby permitting the band 16 to be brought into engagement with the cigars to be treated. The purpose of this clamp is to hold the cigars firmly while they are being perforated and cleaned so as to prevent the cigars from being damaged or broken during these operations. As the cross-head 26 moves toward the cigar heads, the slide 29 which is held by the pin 86 likewise moves in the same direction until the nipples 35 to 31 engage the heads 38 of the cigars. Thereafter the slide 29 remains stationary and serves to properly position the cigar heads. The cross-head 26, however, continues to move until the hollow drill 45 has entered the head of the cigar, as shown in Fig. 4, thereby removing the plug of tobacco therefrom and perforating the cigar head. A t the same time the heated needle 43 enters the perforation of the cigar which has been previously perforated by the hollow drill 45. I'he needle 43 serves to smooth and iron the tobacco around the perforation and to cause the same to permanently retain its shape. During this time a third cigar head which has been previously perforated and ironed by the drill 45 and the needle 43, is held in the nipple 35 to which suction is applied by the hose 4|. This .suction draws air through the entire cigar and removes all loose dust and nes which may have accumulated therein.

After the above operations have been completed, the cam 69 causes the lever 65 to retract the cross-head 26. As this takes place, the ram 6| removes the plug of tobacco from the hollow drill 45. When the cross-head 26 is retracted suiiiciently to cause the pin 86 to engage the slide 29, the latter is retracted with the cross-head 26 to the position shown in Fig. 1. In this position the roller 86 again engages the cam, releasing the band 16 and permitting the conveyor I2 to be advanced another step.

It will be noted that the above described apparatus perforates and cleans the cigars as they are fed to the wrapping machine without requiring any additional labor. The normal feed of the cigars to the Wrapping machine is not interrupted nor retarded by the perforating and cleaning operations. Furthermore, the cigars are Wrapped so promptly after the cleaning operation 'that there is practically no tendency for dust to accumulate thereon. Inasmuch as no further ageing or compressing operations are required, there is no tendency for the perforation to close up before the cigars are used. l

This invention is particularly useful with the cheaper grades of shortl filler cigars which normally contain particles of loose tobacco. These particles are removed and are thus prevented from being sucked into the mouth of the smoker during the normal smoking of the cigar. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is also useful for other types of cigars and has the further advantage that it avoids the necessity for the usual puncturing of the ends of the cigar prior to smoking the same.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein as Will be apparent to a person skilled in the art. The invention is only to be limited in accordance with the following claims when interpreted vin View of the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for perforating cigars, comprising a step-by-step conveyor means, and a reciprocating member carrying a drill and a heated needle cooperating with the head of a cigar at successive stations of said conveyor to drill a perforation in said cigar and to form and iron said perforation.

2. A device for perforating and cleaning cigars, comprising a step-by-step conveyor means, a rotating drill, a heated needle, and a suction head, adapted to engage cigars in successive stations of said conveyor to drill a perforation in the head of the cigar, to iron and form the same, and to remove dust and fines therefrom.

3. A device for perforating and cleaning cigars, comprising a step-by-step Conveyor means, a rotating drill, a heated needle, and a suction head, adapted to engage cigars in successive stations of said conveyor, and means advancing and retracting the said drill, needle and head in synchronism with the movement of said conveyor.

4. A device for perforating cigars, comprising a step-by-step conveyor means, a cross-head carrying a hollow drill and a heated needle, a

` adapted to retract slide mounted independently thereof and having members adapted to engage the head of a cigar in successive stations of said conveyor, said members having apertures through which said drill and said needle respectively pass into the cigar head, spring means normally urging said crosshead and said slide toward said cigars, means to retract said cross-head for withdrawing said drill and heated needle from the cigar heads and means associated with said cross-head to engage and retract said slide to permit the cigars to be advanced on said conveyor.

5. A device for perforating cigars, comprising a step-by-step conveyor means, a cross-head carrying a hollow drill and -a heated needle, a slide mounted independently thereof and having members adapted to engage the head of a cigar in successive stations of said conveyor, said members having apertures through which said drill and said needle respectively pass into the cigar head, spring means normally urging said crosshead and said slide toward said cigars, means to retract said cross-head for withdrawing said drill and heated needle from the cigar heads, means associated with said cross-head to engage and retract said slide to permit the cigars to be advanced on said conveyor, clamping means to clamp and hold the cigars for treatment by said drill and needle, and means to release said clamping means when the cross-head is retracted.

6. A device for perforating and -cleaning cigars, comprising a step-by-step conveyor means, a cross-head carrying a hollow drill and a heated needle, a slide mounted independently thereof 'cross-head carrying a hollow drill and and having members adapted to engage the head of a cigar in successive stations of said conveyor, two of said members having apertures through which said drill and said needle respectively pass into the cigar head, a third ci said members having a channel to which suction is applied, spring means normally urging said cross-head and said slide toward said cigars, cam means said cross-head for withdrawing said drill and heated needle from the cigar head, and means associated with said cross-head to engage and retract said slide to permit the cigars to be advanced by said conveyor.

7. A device for perforating and cleaning cigars, comprising a step-by-step conveyor means, a a heated needle, a slide mounted independently thereof and having members adapted to engage the head of a cigar in successive stations of said conveyor, two of said members having apertures through which said drill and said needle respectively pass into the cigar head, a third of said members having a channel to which suction is applied, spring means normally urging said cross-head and said slide toward said cigars, cam means adapted to retract said cross-head for withdrawing said drill and heated needle from the cigar head, means associated with said cross-head to engage and retract said slide to permit the cigars to be advanced by said conveyor, clamping means to clamp and hold the cigars for the above treatment, andmeans to release said clamping means when said cross-head is retracted.

8. The combination with means for periodically advancing a row of cigars with an interval of rest between successive advancements, a rotary tubular piercing cutter axially aligned with -a cigar during an interval of rest, means for continuously rotating said cutter at relatively high speed, means for axially reciprocating said cutter to pierce the end of the cigar cutting a core therefrom, and means for holding the cigar from movement during retraction of said cutter.

9. A cigar perforating machine comprising a support, a traveling carrier provided upon said support, means for locating and holding a plurality of cigars having tapered ends on said carrier, piercer carrying members provided on said support in longitudinal registration witly said cigar locating means, a piercer provided in connection with each of said members for engaging and piercing cigars moved into its range of action by said carrier, cigar engaging bushings disposed adjacent each of said piercers, each of said bushings and piercer carrying members being independently movable and arranged t0 operate on said tapered ends of cigars, and means for moving said piercer carrying members and said bushings toward and away from the cigars held on said carrier.

LLOYD S. BLOUNT. 

